Investigators were left bewildered last year after a family was found mysteriously dead near the Merced River south of Yosemite National Park. Officials provided different theories as to what might have been the cause of death including toxic algae in a nearby stream - however, they eventually ruled that out as a cause of death. Now, in a heartbreaking turn of events, the officials have recovered the final text messages that the family sent out for help before passing away.
Text Message Reveals Hiking Family's Desperate Plea For Help Before Dying
By
Samantha in
Heartbreaking
On 22nd February 2022
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The whole US was left shocked and worried after the news of mysterious death of a California family at Sierra National Forest. The mystery remained unsolved for quite a long time as the investigating officers struggled to find the cause of death.
The family, a father, mother, 1-year old child and the family dog were found in dying in California's Sierra National Forest during a hiking trip last year.
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Now the very last text message and several attempted phone calls ended up being one family's final desperate plea for help, per the Independent.
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Father Jonathan Gerrish, mother Ellen Chung, their one-year-old daughter, Miju, and their pet, Oski, were found dead last year in August near the Merced River south of Yosemite National Park.
According to the Mariposa County Sheriff's Office, a text message supported the official cause of death — hyperthermia and possible dehydration amid extremely high temperatures, per The Fresno Bee.
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When the incident happened, the authorities also pointed out the potential impact of toxic algae in a nearby stream - however, they eventually ruled that out as a cause of death.
“Can you help us,” the text message begins, with the recipient's name redacted by authorities. “On savage lundy trail heading back to Hites cove trail. No water or ver (over) heating with baby.”
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The message was never delivered because of the absence of cellphone service in the remote forest area.
Further details reveal that there were also several attempted phone calls made in just 25 minutes on the day the family passed away.
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However, none of the calls was to emergency services. The parents also took a screenshot of their location from a trail app.
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Investigators also used the data to investigate and recreate phone data to re-create the path and timeline of the family's hike based on their GPS locations.
There were also sightseeing photographs in the phone only few hours before the family found themselves in deseprate need for help, police reprots.
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The material released by authorities at a press conference on Thursday marked the end of an investigation into the tragic deaths that initially had investigators bewildered.
After the death, a close family friend by the name of Sidney Radanovich described the couple as keen hikers.
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“They were such a loving couple,” Radanovich told the San Francisco Chronicle. He said Gerrish, a San Francisco-based software designer, adored showing Miju “all sorts of things and explain them to her.”
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